About Every Picture

Every Picture Tells A Story, led byArt of Regeneration (AOR) Ltd, explores, catalogues and has created exhibitions and live pop-up events based on the 1970’s photographic archives by Chris Schwarz. Schwarz died in 2007 and bequeathed his collection to AOR.

The project has involved training volunteers in research, oral history, cataloguing, and digitising skills, with support from London Metropolitan Archives, Lewisham College and Lewisham Local History Archive. 14 planned secondary school workshops will also support history curriculum studies through the project.

Much of the work in this archive reflects the programme of creative and cultural development of the Albany Centre in Deptford and key events in Deptford’s history.

The archive forms a multi-faceted record, including life on the new housing estates – Pepys, Milton Court, Idonia Street; the development of children’s play; the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, including the Royal Parade and street parties; Millwall Football Club, the scrap industry; rag ‘n bone men; campaigning for racial equality; community festivals and more.

On the funding, Jenny Harris from Art of Regeneration, said: “So many people have been asking about Chris’s photographs for years, so this is a wonderful opportunity to revisit the 1970’s, the people and events recorded and to examine another era and to see what it teaches us today.”

Schwarz’s photographic work has been published in The Independent, Guardian, Time Out and in books, including Down and Out in Paris and London. He also exhibited in London and overseas.